PDA

View Full Version : Wikileaks Posts Entire Secret Trade Deals OnLine - Liberals Stroking Out




angelatc
06-09-2015, 11:24 AM
Wikileaks has posted the entire contents of the 3 trade deals currently in secret negotiations, and TNR has a serious case of the vapors because the deal would privatize entire sectors of services now controlled by governments, stop new licensing requirements and mean that signatories would not be able to pass new laws and regulations in many existing industries.

From the libertarian standpoint, it doesn't hurt as much as it helps. From the leftist standpoint, it put too much power in the hands of business. From my standpoint, it will just create more "too big to fail" enterprises.

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/121967/whats-really-going-trade-services-agreement


That’s perhaps TiSA’s real goal—to pry open markets, deregulate and privatize services worldwide, even among emerging nations with no input into the agreement. U.S. corporations may benefit from such a structure, as the Chamber of Commerce suggests (https://www.uschamber.com/issue-brief/trade-services-agreement), but the impact on workers and citizens in America and across the globe is far less clear. Social, cultural, and even public health goals would be sidelined in favor of a regime that puts corporate profits first. It effectively nullifies the role of democratic governments to operate in the best interest of their constituents.

Profits are simply the best gauge of the value that society places on goods and services, not some evil that must be combatted.

muh_roads
06-09-2015, 11:30 AM
That doesn't sound too bad.

I'm all for privatizing industries and taking Government out of the picture so long as one group doesn't have a monopoly, like the Federal Reserve.

angelatc
06-09-2015, 11:39 AM
That doesn't sound too bad.

I'm all for privatizing industries and taking Government out of the picture so long as one group doesn't have a monopoly, like the Federal Reserve.

My biggest fear is that it will turn over regulatory authority to a UN-type body, which seems far more likely than governments banding together to stop regulations.

presence
06-09-2015, 11:56 AM
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

Natural Citizen
06-09-2015, 12:05 PM
So, then essentially, this means, as we've already discussed many times here, that western corporations can sue away the sovereignty of foreign nations. Right? I mean, I'm open for correction if anyone views that any differently. This is mercantilism 101.

Natural Citizen
06-09-2015, 12:08 PM
My biggest fear is that it will turn over regulatory authority to a UN-type body, which seems far more likely than governments banding together to stop regulations.

There are other things going on. We're seeing traditional allies flock toward the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank and the BRICS Bank like mad. But, at the same time we're also seeing nations align themselves in a way in which they get a vote in the UN. And, so, that's huge. I've spent a great deal of time explaining this in the BRICS thread. Of course, nobody fuggin pays attention. Heh...

Anyhow. I see that you're looking to spin this into a left/'right paradigm. I'll likely not participate in that circus. But, I'd agree with you that there are some geo-political outliers. Big ones. And I think that those outliers are going to lead to WWIII. Not in the sense of bullets and bombs but in terms of...oh...lets say space war.

AuH20
06-09-2015, 12:12 PM
This is where the Chinese firms come in:


The TPP allows corporations to directly sue our country if federal, state or local laws, government actions or court rulings are claimed to violate new rights and privileges the TPP would grant to foreign firms. Firms from TPP nations operating here could attack U.S. regulations over cancer-causing chemicals or environmental concerns before tribunals comprised of corporate lawyers that rotate by day and night between acting as "judges" and representing corporations attacking governments. These decisions then cannot be challenged in U.S. courts -- and U.S. taxpayers will get stuck with the bill. So much for our precious sovereignty!

AuH20
06-09-2015, 12:13 PM
Big Pharma can't have generic drugs gumming up the price structure:


Prescription drug costs will increase. The TPP includes terms that would limit access to generic drugs and curtail government power to limit the price of drugs. See Public Citizen's report "The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) threatens access to affordable medicines."

erowe1
06-09-2015, 12:15 PM
Is "stroking out" a euphemism for something?

AuH20
06-09-2015, 12:19 PM
You know what's extremely amusing about the left's reaction to TPP? The fact that they are recoiling in fear to this TPP initiative that allegedly opens up competition to 'Foreign Service Providers.' In other words, the fiefdom known as the U.S. Postal Office would have to prove it's mettle on the world stage. So they love the fact that our country is being inundated by foreigners with no allegiance to it's prior heritage, but now that their legalized rackets are suddenly under threat, they are immediately concerned about foreign influence. Schadenfreude I say. You wanted this. Time to sit down and eat every last disgusting morsel. Cheers for the New World Order.

fisharmor
06-09-2015, 12:21 PM
So, then essentially, this means, as we've already discussed many times here, that western corporations can sue away the sovereignty of foreign nations. Right? I mean, I'm open for correction if anyone views that any differently. This is mercantilism 101.

True, but mercantilists have a record too, and its pile of bodies is much smaller. Fewer broken up lemonade stands, and when they locked up someone for being black, they were at least honest about their reasons.
If we're being pragmatic here then I say bring on some of the old fashioned mercantilism.
Hell, for that matter, bring back King George III.


Is "stroking out" a euphemism for something?

LOL I like where your mind may have been going, but no, it just means having a stroke.

GunnyFreedom
06-09-2015, 12:27 PM
Is "stroking out" a euphemism for something?

bursting aneurysms?

Origanalist
06-09-2015, 12:32 PM
TiSA Transparency Negotiating Text


This is the secret January 2015 draft of the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) Transparency Annex, including negotiating positions. TiSA is currently under negotiation between the United States, the European Union and 23 other countries. The Agreement creates an international legal regime which aims to deregulate and privatize the supply of services - which account for the majority of the economy across TiSA countries. The draft Annex aims to make governments more transparent to global commercial actors, creating obligations to notify and consult with transnational corporations on decisions and measures which may affect their interests. This text dates from shortly before the 11th round of TiSA negotiations held from 9-13 February 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Download the PDF for Analysis of Annex on Transparency Negotiating Text

Well, that's not ironic.....

Analysis on TISA Transparency Text dated 23 January 2015
(updated from the 16 April 2014 Transparency Text)
There is a deep irony whenever governments make commitments to ‘transparency’ in contemporary
pro-corporate treaties that are negotiated under conditions of extraordinary secrecy. TISA is one of
the most extreme examples, with the Parties pledging to keep the documents secret for five years
after a final agreement comes into force or the negotiations are formally abandoned.1
Some
governments are already releasing their own and joint documents; others are hiding behind the
secrecy pact and refusing to be held accountable.
‘Transparency’ in this TISA text means ensuring that commercial interests, especially but not only
transnational corporations, can access and influence government decisions that affect their interests
– rights and opportunities that may not be available to local businesses or to national citizens. They
may want to stop or change government decisions they don’t like, or rally to support those that are
being challenged.
Chapters or provisions on ‘transparency’ have become increasingly common in recent free trade and
investment agreements. In addition, there will be ‘transparency’ provisions in specific TISA
annexes, such as financial services2
or domestic regulation.3
They impose cumulative obligations on
governments.
The leverage that foreign corporations exercise over governments is already a sore point in many
countries. TISA would add more opportunities that go far beyond the limited GATS provision on
transparency, both in their content and by providing entitlements to private firms.4
If its champions
have their way, this will end up applying to the entire WTO membership, including many
developing and least developed countries.
The leaked text has an escalating scale of obligations. The following describes the most aggressive
versions of the proposals, unless otherwise indicated. ‘Interested persons’ is code for commercial
interests.

https://wikileaks.org/tisa/transparency/01-2015/analysis/Analysis-TiSA-Transparency-Article.pdf

juleswin
06-09-2015, 12:34 PM
Makes me wonder if this wasn't leaked on purpose to get certain groups to support it and then the final bill changed to screw everyone up. Its still the very Liberal Obama for the people who care for labels pushing this. A man who hasn't come up with one good idea in his term in office.

And lest we forget, he is still pushing for higher minimum wage and a deal on climate change. How very free market and libertarian of him. I say its either someone is using wikileaks or they are in on it.

tangent4ronpaul
06-09-2015, 12:39 PM
In related news ISIS is hiring corporate lawyers...

-t

Origanalist
06-09-2015, 12:40 PM
That doesn't sound too bad.

I'm all for privatizing industries and taking Government out of the picture so long as one group doesn't have a monopoly, like the Federal Reserve.

Secret transnational agreements not available to the public sounds extremely bad to me. We have no idea nor any input as to the final results.

AuH20
06-09-2015, 12:44 PM
See the Maastricht Treaty. It started off in a similar manner and eventually the EU was created. I have no doubts that TPP is based on a similar strategy. First, weave global commerce together and then follow it up with the governmental coalescence.

tangent4ronpaul
06-09-2015, 12:56 PM
Anyone a William Gibson fan?

Corporations more powerful than governments sounds just ducky! :rolleyes:

-t

devil21
06-09-2015, 02:06 PM
This is where the Chinese firms come in:

I have to review the docs but that sounds like the lynchpin of these 'trade agreements'. Allowing foreign (read: global) corporations the ability to strike down existing US laws ex post facto to facilitate their exploitation of the country they are operating in. Anything that inhibits their business, such as labor laws, export laws, environmental restrictions, etc. Chinese mining corps won't like our export rules. Manufacturing won't like our labor laws.

Coming soon to a city near you. FOXCONN USA! Hence why cities are being built up in condo 'stack and pack' configs at a feverish pace, where public transport moves everyone around inside the glass bubble of the city, and few can escape since cars will slowly be done away with in favor of "green alternatives" of public transport. Agenda 21...

Manufacturing will come back to the US. Just as long as you don't mind living in a 300sqft condo and working 14 hours a day for peanuts. Just look at FOXCONN to see what the future of US cities holds.

Ronin Truth
06-09-2015, 02:18 PM
We'll learn a lot (perhaps much more than we really want to know) from what the GOP controlled Senate does with this (treaty?).

tangent4ronpaul
06-09-2015, 02:38 PM
WikiLeaks offering cash for leaks on Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal
As of early Wednesday, at least 421 people have donated $36,000 for the cause
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/06/wikileaks-offering-cash-for-leaks-on-trans-pacific-partnership-trade-deal/

"The treaty aims to create a new international legal regime that will allow transnational corporations to bypass domestic courts, evade environmental protections, police the internet on behalf of the content industry, limit the availability of affordable generic medicines, and drastically curtail each country's legislative sovereignty," WikiLeaks said in a statement.

WikiLeaks releases secret TISA docs: The more evil sibling of TTIP and TPP
The new agreement that would hamstring governments and citizens even further.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/06/wikileaks-releases-secret-tisa-docs-the-more-evil-sibling-of-ttip-and-tpp/

WikiLeaks has released 17 secret documents from the negotiations of the global Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), which have been taking place behind closed doors, largely unnoticed, since 2013. The main participants are the United States, the European Union, and 23 other countries including Turkey, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Pakistan, Taiwan and Israel, which together comprise two-thirds of global GDP.

Significantly, all the BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—are absent, and are therefore unable to provide their perspective and input for what is essentially a deal designed by Western nations, for the benefit of Western corporations. According to the European Commission's dedicated page: "TiSA aims at opening up markets and improving rules in areas such as licensing, financial services, telecoms, e-commerce, maritime transport, and professionals moving abroad temporarily to provide services."

TISA's focus on services complements the two other global trade agreements currently being negotiated in secret: the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), and the corresponding deal for the Pacific region, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which deal with goods and investments. Like both TTIP and TPP, one of the central aims of TISA is to remove "barriers" to trade in services, and to impose a regulatory ratchet on participating nations. In the case of TISA, the ratchet ensures that services are deregulated and opened up to private companies around the world, and that once privatised, they cannot be re-nationalised.

The 17 documents released today include drafts and annexes on issues such as air traffic, maritime transport, professional services, e-commerce, delivery services, transparency, and domestic regulation, as well as several documents on the positions of negotiating parties. The annexe on e-commerce is likely to be of particular interest to Ars readers, since, if adopted, it would have a major impact on several extremely sensitive areas in the digital realm.
Thou shalt not...

For example, the question of data flows—specifically the flow of European citizens' personal data to the US—is at the heart of disputes over the EU's proposed Data Retention rules, the Safe Harbour agreement, and TTIP. Here's what Article 2.1 of TISA's e-commerce annexe would impose upon its signatories: "No Party may prevent a service supplier of another Party from transferring, [accessing, processing or storing] information, including personal information, within or outside the Party’s territory, where such activity is carried out in connection with the conduct of the service supplier’s business."

What that means in practice, is that the EU would be forbidden from requiring that US companies like Google or Facebook keep the personal data of European citizens within the EU—one of the ideas currently being floated in Germany. Article 9.1 imposes a more general ban on requiring companies to locate some of their computing facilities in a territory: "No Party may require a service supplier, as a condition for supplying a service or investing in its territory, to: (a) use computing facilities located in the Party’s territory."

Article 6 of the leaked text seems to ban any country from using free software mandates: "No Party may require the transfer of, or access to, source code of software owned by a person of another Party, as a condition of providing services related to such software in its territory." The text goes on to specify that this only applies to "mass-market software," and does not apply to software used for critical infrastructure. It would still prevent a European government from specifying that its civil servants should use only open-source code for word processing—a sensible requirement given what we know about the deployment of backdoors in commercial software by the NSA and GCHQ.

Without WikiLeaks, the presence of these far-reaching proposals would not have been revealed until after the agreement had been finalised—at which point, nothing could be done about them, since the text would be fixed. With the publication of these documents, civil society has an opportunity to find out what is being discussed behind those closed doors, and to analyse and discuss the implications. Whether the negotiators will take account of what ordinary people think is another matter.


TTIP explained: The secretive US-EU treaty that undermines democracy
A boost for national economies, or a Trojan Horse for corporations?
http://arstechnica.co.uk/tech-policy/2015/05/ttip-explained-the-secretive-us-eu-treaty-that-undermines-democracy/

-t

Anti Federalist
06-09-2015, 02:50 PM
My biggest fear is that it will turn over regulatory authority to a UN-type body, which seems far more likely than governments banding together to stop regulations.

I think we can pretty much count on this happening.

Created4
06-09-2015, 02:58 PM
WikiLeaks offering cash for leaks on Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal
As of early Wednesday, at least 421 people have donated $36,000 for the cause
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/06/wikileaks-offering-cash-for-leaks-on-trans-pacific-partnership-trade-deal/



From arstechnica.com:


The secret-spilling site is offering as much as $100,000 to somebody who forwards to WikiLeaks the 26 chapters of the 29 that have not been disclosed so far.

So only 3 of the 29 chapters have been reportedly leaked so far (not the "entire secret trade deal"). Probably the 3 chapters that were "planned" to be leaked?? I don't see any new news on this since 6/3....

Ronin Truth
06-09-2015, 03:03 PM
My biggest fear is that it will turn over regulatory authority to a UN-type body, which seems far more likely than governments banding together to stop regulations.

Wouldn't that require Senate approval also?

tangent4ronpaul
06-09-2015, 03:12 PM
From arstechnica.com:



So only 3 of the 29 chapters have been reportedly leaked so far (not the "entire secret trade deal"). Probably the 3 chapters that were "planned" to be leaked?? I don't see any new news on this since 6/3....

Don't know if they paid the reward, just pointing out that they were crowdfunding for it.

I think they got the whole thing now.

-t

juleswin
06-09-2015, 03:28 PM
Also seeing as how the information contained in the bill is already made public, I guess there is no need continuing with the secrecy right?

GunnyFreedom
06-09-2015, 06:57 PM
Also seeing as how the information contained in the bill is already made public, I guess there is no need continuing with the secrecy right?

No TPP there, only TiSA so far

thoughtomator
06-09-2015, 11:24 PM
From the libertarian standpoint, it doesn't hurt as much as it helps.

You couldn't pick the libertarian standpoint out of a lineup in three tries. There is only one other person on this board dumbass enough to believe that handing sovereign regulatory powers to a cartel of anti-competitive Fascists is a good idea.

Natural Citizen
06-09-2015, 11:37 PM
You couldn't pick the libertarian standpoint out of a lineup in three tries. There is only one other person on this board dumbass enough to believe that handing sovereign regulatory powers to a cartel of anti-competitive Fascists is a good idea.

Well. I'll say this. I actually think that angela is one of the, if not, THE most "libertarian" person(s) on the entire board. This is a problem for me. And it is why I've found myself gradually separating myself from my political peers in the movement or demograph. I'm seeing libertarianism hijacked much in the way that we saw with the TEA PARTY.

Libertarianism , unfortunately, has been relegated to serving as the stalking horse (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalking_horse)for our mercantilist friends in various circles. Now, with this so called trade agreement, all it really does is protect our mercantilist friends from free trade. It protects them from a free market. And, I know that many here know that. No sense in going over it.

At the end of the day I maintain that the entire thing will fall flat on it's face. Meaning this power grab. The rest of the world isn't having any of it. But the great thing about it is that we get to see who is whom in our "libertarian" group. We get to see who really understands the nature of foreign policy and who doesn't. Further, we get to see who would contribute further to such a failure in foreign policy and who would not. And, really, it is unfortunate that it has to be that way. But it must be that way.

idiom
06-10-2015, 04:52 AM
Every one in the group could just do what New Zealand did and uni-laterally remove all tariffs and other trade barriers and subsidies.

It actually worked really really well.

osan
06-10-2015, 05:08 AM
My biggest fear is that it will turn over regulatory authority to a UN-type body, which seems far more likely than governments banding together to stop regulations.

I see Obama as likely to push for such things. Why? Because he will want to be chief of such a globally over-arching institution... with no term limit, of course. He appears to be of the personality type that views his stint as POTUS to be nothing but a stepping stone to ever bigger things. In fact, at this point he probably views the Oval Office as global chump-change

osan
06-10-2015, 05:39 AM
See the Maastricht Treaty. It started off in a similar manner and eventually the EU was created. I have no doubts that TPP is based on a similar strategy. First, weave global commerce together and then follow it up with the governmental coalescence.

That would certainly fit the pattern.

It is telling to note that these things are now set into place with what is effectively zero resistance. Loud, angry talk does not count. Theye are now basically able to do anything they please with little fear of dangerous reprisals. That, of course, does not preclude other, equally dangerous consequences, but I suppose only time will tell. And that last bit applies mostly to the USA mainly because we remain well armed, which I am sure sticks in Theire craws as another obstacle to be removed... in time. Note how lately there are more noises on back-door means of furthering so-called "gun control". But if Theye are patient, and they appear to be losing that quality of character for whatever reason, once the strategy to which you refer cements sufficient coalescence of government authority, it will become a cakewalk to sew up the small vestige of individualist resistance to global hegemony. It may still be very bloody, but it would likely not last that long. Time is on Theire side, if they will simply wait for the right circumstance.

When that day comes and the American people say "fuck you" to Theire latest and greatest fiat regarding private ownership of weapons, Theye will simply move foreign troops into North America, staging in MX and Canada perhaps, or just landing on the shores of each coast by perhaps the millions, and begin the wave inward, house by house, to confiscate every weapon they find and murder anyone who so much as opens their yaps in anything other than smiling, eager obedience. That is how I would do it, anyway.

Seriously now - if the US military is rendered a non-factor, something that can be readily accomplished logistically at the very least - imagine in your mind's eye what the public result would be when assault forces appear and land on Redondo Beach, Seaside, and so forth. Think carefully before concluding. What will the average American individual in the area, capable of witnessing the actual events, do? Will they grab their rifles and organize to repel the invaders? Not on your life. The average man will stare and stare, at first in confusion. Once they realize those are not Americans rushing toward them, they will shit in their pants and allow anything the uniformed thugs demand. There will be no resistance of which to speak, especially when any such effort is met with shock-and-awe massacre. Grown men will be so terrified, they will hold up their 10 year old sons and daughters in offer to the soldiers' pleasure in exchange for not being hurt.

It should be plenty clear that this globalization thing is a very serious matter to Themme. The rest of the world is lined up, save perhaps some of the wilder elements of the middle-eastern Islamic jihadist. Once those have served their political purposes, they may be wiped from the earth as easily as I'd clean the blackboard for my German Language teacher in high-school. But the Americans will be a slightly different issue - more work, more area, more potential threat. But I hold little doubt that when the physical reality is upon us with a million or more foreign troops coming ashore in coordinated, blitzkrieg fashion, the average American will definitely fold as a cheap suit. I am not sure how to assess the so-called "3%" in terms of their abilities to fight off what could ultimately be several millions of well-armed invaders. I can assure you that it will not be as depicted in "Red Dawn" - not with fifth-generation night vision and computerized targeting in Theire hands but not ours.

This is all speculative, naturally, and may never come to pass. But were it to, I would not in any way be surprised. I would, however, be scared sheet-white and shitless.

osan
06-10-2015, 05:46 AM
Secret transnational agreements not available to the public sounds extremely bad to me. We have no idea nor any input as to the final results.

Agreed. However, I am not sure that it makes any difference at this point, unfortunately.

Consider the real game at hand, and there are several in play. There is the game of the cheaply-for-sale US politician. His obvious personal interests might be cause to believe that public outrage would make a difference. But do his interests really make a difference? I suspect that this is more and more inching toward "not at all". So what if some punk senator doesn't get reelected? Those playing the other game, the REAL game, could give the least damn, save for the inconvenience such outcomes might pose.

One way or another we are going to have one-world government, all else equal - and please let all else not be so. Theye are taking over - HAVE taken over - and are now putting the finishing touches on their initial work. Theye will stop at nothing to have that which they seek. Theye will kill you, your children, and everyone you know. I hold no doubt whatsoever that if Theye had to, they would murder every living soul in America. THAT is what we are up against, and at this moment things are not looking very rosy.

osan
06-10-2015, 05:50 AM
We'll learn a lot (perhaps much more than we really want to know) from what the GOP controlled Senate does with this (treaty?).

Yessir... the result their will tell you immediately whether America is screwed. I say we are, but thinly hope to be surprised and made the fool.

If Congress does not slap these down with unequivocal force, you'd better start making whatever preparations you have in mind - whether to simply give in or to die fighting - because the time will be upon us.

Time is here.

Origanalist
06-10-2015, 05:59 AM
Yessir... the result their will tell you immediately whether America is screwed. I say we are, but thinly hope to be surprised and made the fool.

If Congress does not slap these down with unequivocal force, you'd better start making whatever preparations you have in mind - whether to simply give in or to die fighting - because the time will be upon us.

Time is here.

We've all been made fools of, some just are unfortunate enough to see it.

Origanalist
06-10-2015, 06:54 AM
LEAKED E-MAIL: TTIP VOTE SUSPENDED BY EURO AUTHORITIES, FARAGE SAYS ‘EU RUNNING SCARED’

Last night Breitbart London reported that the European Parliament’s plans to vote and debate on the “shady” Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership deal with the United States had been thrown into disarray on the back of major public backlash.

E-mail from Martin Schulz delaying TTIP
E-mail from Martin Schulz delaying TTIP

The planned parliamentary activity today was called into question late last night, as a leaked e-mail from the Parliament’s president at 10pm reveals. Sent directly from Martin Schulz, it reads:

“Group leaders representing a majority in the Conference of Presidents have informed me that they want the report by Mr Lange on TTIP to be postponed.

“At this stage, such a change can be made only on a proposal by the President to amend the agenda in accordance with Rule 152. In order to enable the House to vote on the change suggested, I have agreed to make such a proposal.

“Therefore, at the opening of the sitting at 8 a.m., the proposal to postpone the report by Mr Lange will be put to the House.”

http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/06/10/leaked-e-mail-ttip-vote-suspended-by-euro-authorities-farage-says-eu-running-scared/

Origanalist
06-10-2015, 06:59 AM
OBAMATRADE SUPPORT FALLING APART IN HOUSE DESPITE LEADERSHIP PUSH

Republican members aren’t buying what President Barack Obama and House Speaker Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)40%
are selling when it comes to Obamatrade, and support for the president’s key trade agenda item is starting to fall apart rapidly amid grassroots pressure.

“I’m voting against Trade Promotion Authority,” Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA)50%
told Breitbart News on Tuesday.

I don’t trust President Obama to negotiate in good faith. In November, I signed a letter to President Obama highlighting Congress’ authority to set the terms of trade in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. Voting for Trade Promotion “Fast Track” authority would essentially give President Obama a blank check to negotiate trade deals without Congressional input. We’ve seen too many bad deals happen on his watch, and his abuse of executive orders has demonstrated his complete disregard for the law. I don’t want to see it happen one more time.

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ)80%
, through a spokesman, confirmed he’s leaning no on Obamatrade.

“As of now, Congressman Gosar is leaning no,” Gosar spokesman Steven Smith said in an email. “He has concerns about the consequences of granting the president fast-track authority which would force Congress to vote on his trade agreement without any opportunity to offer amendments.”

Both Gosar and Cook were previously publicly undecided.

Many more Republican members who are publicly undecided are actually planning to vote against the legislation should leadership take it up for a vote, sources in many of their offices tell Breitbart News.

According to a whip list that The Hill newspaper has been keeping since early May—it was last updated on Tuesday shortly after noon—at least 30 Republicans will vote no, (which includes several “lean” no votes). Those include Reps. Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI)95%
, Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA)38%
, Dave Brat (R-VA), Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL)80%
, Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO)80%
, Rep. Curt Clawson (R-FL)89%
, Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY)32%
, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)34%
, Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC)95%
, John Duncan (R-TN), Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY)42%
, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)67%
, Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC)70%
, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH)92%
, David Joyce (R-OH), Rep. John Katko (R-NY)20%
, Rep. Steve King (R-IA)79%
, Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID)95%
, Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)32%
, Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ)40%
, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY)91%
, Rep. David McKinley (R-WV)45%
, Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL)100%
, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)32%
, Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK)40%
, Chris Smith (R-NJ), Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI)65%
, Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL)73%
, Rep. Don Young (R-AK)38%
, and Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT)40%
.

Add Gosar and Cook to that list and GOP opposition that’s public is now at 32, but The Hill also misses some members who are publicly against it as well.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)80%
told the New York Times he’s against it, and the Times reported in that piece that Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX)94%
is against it as well. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX)79%
is against it, as he told Breitbart News before, and again there are several more Republicans who have expressed either serious concerns with the deal or have privately told Breitbart News or other conservative groups who have confirmed those members’ positions in opposition to Obamatrade to Breitbart News.

The total number of definite Republican no votes on Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) that would fast track the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal—the text of which is currently being kept hidden from the American people—is probably higher than 123, some sources close to the process tell Breitbart News, despite GOP leadership’s public statements that they will pass by voting on it soon — perhaps this week.

One aide who works for a member who isn’t publicly against it yet but is opposed to Obamatrade said that Boehner will probably will probably have to break the so-called Hastert Rule, which informally requires a majority of Republicans — 124, since there are 246 total House Republicans — to support a piece of legislation before it’s called to the House floor for a vote.

If that’s the case, with less than 20 Democrats supportive of the deal publicly, Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)7%
would need to deliver close to or more than 100 Democrat votes to get over the golden 218 marker to pass a bill. That seems, quite frankly, impossible if Republicans are as opposed to this as it seems.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/06/09/exclusive-obamatrade-support-falling-apart-in-house-despite-leadership-push-123-against-and-counting/

Origanalist
06-10-2015, 06:59 AM
Amazing what a little daylight will do. Thank you Wikileaks.

angelatc
06-10-2015, 08:38 AM
Significantly, all the BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—are absent, and are therefore unable to provide their perspective and input for what is essentially a deal designed by Western nations, for the benefit of Western corporations

It is a trade deal - who the hell else would it benefit?

Also I'd like to point out that real mercantilism uses high tariffs to balance trade. I think that the word is just currently being coopted by socialists who don't like private property and business in general.

Aside from a ban on open source software - what is in this treaty that wouldn't be considered a step to a free market?

Ronin Truth
06-10-2015, 09:11 AM
Yessir... the result their will tell you immediately whether America is screwed. I say we are, but thinly hope to be surprised and made the fool.

If Congress does not slap these down with unequivocal force, you'd better start making whatever preparations you have in mind - whether to simply give in or to die fighting - because the time will be upon us.

Time is here.

I sadly agree and say that Amerika is too (again). :( Long before either you or I were even born. ;)


"Our forefathers would be firing by now."

presence
06-10-2015, 09:14 AM
Molon Labe, assenholes. -me, for Presence because "[he's] running out of room on [his] signature line."

:D

pcosmar
06-10-2015, 10:16 AM
I think that the word is just currently being coopted by socialists who don't like private property and business in general.


Co-opted?
It has been the rule since before I was born.

Most of the world is Socialist (including the US),, save for a few pockets that are still ruled by tribalism. And those are under attack.

AuH20
06-10-2015, 10:36 AM
Co-opted?
It has been the rule since before I was born.

Most of the world is Socialist (including the US),, save for a few pockets that are still ruled by tribalism. And those are under attack.

It's essentially the same junk repackaged with a patriotic exterior.

http://www.votefortheconstitution.com/uploads/8/8/7/6/8876634/9664603_orig.jpg

helmuth_hubener
06-10-2015, 10:55 AM
That doesn't sound too bad.

I'm all for privatizing industries and taking Government out of the picture so long as one group doesn't have a monopoly, like the Federal Reserve.

True. The treaty could actually be a good thing. The main concern would be the one Angela voices: the possibility of power centralization. The last thing humanity needs is a global gov't, even if said global gov't reduces tariffs and outlaws licensing restrictions. Then we end up with a freer market in hair care, but nowhere to run the next genocide season that rolls around. We need more and smaller polities. More decentralization, not more centralization.

pcosmar
06-10-2015, 10:55 AM
It's essentially the same junk repackaged with a patriotic exterior.



Except,,
what was once a "civil" socialism is becoming National Socialism.

and we have seen the ugly fruits of that.

osan
06-10-2015, 11:21 AM
OBAMATRADE SUPPORT FALLING APART IN HOUSE DESPITE LEADERSHIP PUSH

Sounds great, on the surface.

I would direct your thoughts, however, back to Christmas 1912 when the Federal Reserve Act was pushed through, without a quorum.

If this is really that important to TPTB, expect some chicanery... perhaps a show-of-hands vote where "all in favor" will show three hands, and "all opposed" the rest, the vote being called "in favor and is passed". As some of you surely recall, this has happened before. Perhaps Bammy will simply whip out his Bammy-pen to scribble up a Bammy-Order. He appears fond of that method.

Origanalist
06-10-2015, 12:27 PM
Sounds great, on the surface.

I would direct your thoughts, however, back to Christmas 1912 when the Federal Reserve Act was pushed through, without a quorum.

If this is really that important to TPTB, expect some chicanery... perhaps a show-of-hands vote where "all in favor" will show three hands, and "all opposed" the rest, the vote being called "in favor and is passed". As some of you surely recall, this has happened before. Perhaps Bammy will simply whip out his Bammy-pen to scribble up a Bammy-Order. He appears fond of that method.

It's close, and I expect the usual covering of one for another to get it through. Failing that some will metaphorically fall on their swords. All for the greater good........

Origanalist
06-10-2015, 12:32 PM
Congress is being so secretive about Obamatrade that Congressional authorities are not only keeping the text of President Barack Obama’s various trade deals secret, they’re also keeping the log that lists which members of Congress went to go read the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) private as well.

But let's be hopeful this will end up being a good thing......

presence
06-10-2015, 12:59 PM
Aside from a ban on open source software - what is in this treaty that wouldn't be considered a step to a free market?

increase drug patent monopolies; force gov't healthcare to pay for brand name drugs instead of generic
tax payers on the hook for ISDS fines for lawsuits pressed by foreign corps which private citizens couldn't previously invoke/claim
indefinite extensions of patents, especially IP and Pharma via "evergreening'
institute everything that was in CISPA; 3 strikes and no internet for downloading copyrighted content

GunnyFreedom
06-10-2015, 02:28 PM
Wikileaks just published the Healtcare Annex to the TPP

https://wikileaks.org/tpp/healthcare/

Pericles
06-10-2015, 02:39 PM
See the Maastricht Treaty. It started off in a similar manner and eventually the EU was created. I have no doubts that TPP is based on a similar strategy. First, weave global commerce together and then follow it up with the governmental coalescence.

Bingo - I'll just drop this here:


http://secondcitynetwork.com/help-kickstart-world-war-iii/